Although Genoa Lakes Golf Course is officially Douglas High School's designated course, the Carson boys' golf team continued to feel right at home on the Genoa links Wednesday in a tournament involving all 13 Northern 4A teams.
The Senators shot a team-score of 398 at the course to record the low team score of the day, 10 strokes ahead of second-place Reno High.
In the first tournament of the season on March 10 at Genoa Lakes, Carson shot a 375 to record its best team score of the season.
Carson's first-place finish was its first of the season in four Northern 4A tournaments. Wednesday's first-place finish, combined with two earlier second-place finishes and a third, assures the Senators of a berth in the zone tournament, set for May 8.
Only 10 strokes separated the Carson scorers. John Chirila posted the Senators' low score of the day with his 74. Other Carson scores included: Nick Zappin, 78, Toby Steele, 81, Justin Bryant, 81, Josh Bratzler, 84, and Nick Carlson, 85.
"Six guys playing consistently - that's what it takes to win," said Carson coach Paul Croghan.
Chirila's score was just one shot off the winning score of 73 set by medalist Bryson Young of Galena. Defending zone champion Travis Whisman was three shots behind with a 76.
The Douglas team finished 10th with the score of 446.
In the season-long standings, Carson is two team points ahead of Reno for the top spot in the zone's standings.
Closely trailing Carson and Reno on Wednesday were Galena (3rd, 409), McQueen (4th, 411) and Elko (5th, 415), meaning that only 17 shots separated first from fifth at Genoa Lakes.
That's the type of close finish Croghan expects at the Northern 4A Zone Tournament, with a number of teams in contention through the last holes.
"It's going to be a dogfight right to the wire," Croghan said.
The Carson golfers resume play on Monday in another 4A tournament set for Wolf Run in Reno at 1:30 p.m.
